Morrell Monthly: December 2018

Holiday Message

The end of another year invites each of us to pause and reflect on the last 12 months and anticipate what lies ahead. For many Californians, there have been challenges, especially in recent weeks. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this season.

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge became the first president to host a national Christmas tree lighting. It was in the years immediately following World War I - a tradition that continues to this day. Before heading out to the festivities, he sent a message to disabled veterans of the conflict saying, “The heart of America is with those who made the great sacrifice in defense of our ideals.” It is a sentiment that we still share today, especially as many in the service are away from their families during the holidays. Read more here.

Annual Emergency Preparedness Forum

This fall, I worked with the nonprofit Building Resilient Communities on our 6th Annual Ark of Safety emergency preparedness forum. The annual event is an opportunity for Inland Empire faith, community, business, and education leaders to come together to discuss how to make our neighborhoods safer and the role houses of worship can play in providing relief.

This year’s event focused on earthquake readiness and connected participants to various government agencies and nonprofits that serve to assist during emergencies and natural disasters.

Thank you to the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino for the use of their facility - and thank you to Building Resilient Communities president Debra Williams for her dedication to this program. I look forward to partnering up again in 2019!

Applications - Capital Fellows Program

Each year, the Center for California Studies at California State University Sacramento places college graduates in various offices in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches as part of the Capital Fellows Program. These nationally recognized public policy fellowships offer unique experiences in policy-making and development in each branch of government.

I have had the great privilege of participating in the program for the last four years.

Our past fellows have gone on to pursue careers in public service in and around the State Capitol.

Tess Scherkenback was placed in our office for the 2017/18 year. She graduated summa cum laude and top of her major at Azusa Pacific University with an M.A. in Political Science and a double minor in Music & Humanities. She is a strong proponent of volunteerism and community service, teaching ESL. We are fortunate to have been able to hire her on as a legislative aide on our staff.

Heading into 2019, we are pleased to have Carney King as part of our office.

His past experience includes serving as the Operations Manager for the California Republican Party, and as an independent contractor for the consulting firm Meridian Pacific., Inc. Carney is an Army veteran from Elk Grove, California and graduated from the University of Oregon in 2017.

Applications for the 2019-20 Capital Fellows Programs are now OPEN. They are due by Monday, February 11, 2019.

Photos

Communities around the 23rd Senate District have been marking the holiday season all month long. My staff and I were glad to join parades in both Blue Jay (top) and Redlands (middle). Special thanks to the Boy Scouts for walking alongside parade participants, including Lake Arrowhead Troop 89 and Redlands Troop 33! Our staff also joined the Menifee community for its Hanukkah menorah lighting at Mayfield Park (bottom).

I was honored to be asked by San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon (at left) to be the guest speaker at the sheriff’s academy fall graduation. Congratulations to this new class - thank you for your service.

I had the opportunity to speak at a lunch meeting of the Menifee Rotary Club. At left, local realtor Vickie Carpenter and Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman. At right, club president-elect Debbie Manion.

The West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District recently reached its 35th anniversary. Field Representative Joshua Monzon met with President Paul Leon (left) and the district board to mark the occasion.

Thanks to AT&T for partnering with our office to bring the “It Can Wait” initiative to Alta Loma High School. The program focuses on drawing attention to the dangers of distracted driving, with particular emphasis on the risks that come with using smartphones while behind the wheel. Learn more at www.itcanwait.com.

Congratulations to two new businesses in Big Bear! At top: Bob and Nancy Wallace celebrate the ribbon cutting for The Furniture Store. At bottom: Sevag and Melissa Baghboudarian mark the grand opening of their family business, Graphics Designed Ink.

Bank of America Small Business Banking celebrated their newly renovated space in Redlands. This branch has been open in the city since the 1950s. Congratulations! At left: Redlands Manager Sadiya Rasheed, Market Leader Nohe Gamboa, myself, and Inland Empire Market President Al Arguello

2019 State Business Tax Climate Index

Each year, the nonpartisan Tax Foundation releases its State Business Tax Climate Index with the intention of informing business leaders, policymakers, and taxpayers on the efficiency of their tax systems and how their individual systems compare with other states.

The index ranks states based on more than 100 factors in five different tax areas: corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, and property taxes, then adding the results for an overall ranking. Rather than focusing on the amount collected in taxes, the study highlights the general competitiveness of their tax systems.

For the 2019 ranking, California comes in at #49 - burdened by particularly high income and sales taxes (ranked #49 and #43 in those respective categories) pushed by the majority party in Sacramento.